Before going trick or treating or allowing children to go out in groups together first check where offenders live in your neighborhood and avoid these homes. If an offender is passing out candy on Halloween night then call your local authorities to help determine if he is violating his or her probation or parole agreement. Many states have what is called a zero tolerance law for offenders.

So, what exactly does zero tolerance mean for an offender? Zero tolerance laws mean the state has no tolerance for offenders because on Halloween offenders are prohibited to decorate their homes with Halloween lights or decorations. On Halloween, offenders cannot turn on their porch light or pass out Halloween candy to children who are trick or treating.

In addition if the offender has children, someone else must to take their children trick or treating on Halloween. The offender cannot have nor go to a Halloween or costume party, maze or haunted house where children might not be present nor can they sponsor or have one of these events on their own.

In many states the offender can expect, unexpected home visits, as well as surveillance and curfew checks. What then is all the fuss over offenders passing out candy on Halloween? Authorities feel that whenever a child and an offender come in close contact with each other, it puts the offender at a higher risk of reoffending.

One important safety guideline for parents and children is never to go to a home in your neighborhood if you do not know who lives there. There is a safety in numbers and children should never go trick or treating alone. Even older children need to go in pairs or in groups of three or more. Make sure your child has a way to contact you if he or she gets lost or separated from you, and this can be done by using a two-way radio, cell phone or other way to contact home in the event of an emergency.

Finally, check the national offender registry and know where the offenders live in your neighborhood. Teach children never to go to a house where an offender lives. If an offender’s house has the porch light on or is passing out candy, contact your local authorities. Make them aware that a offender lives there and they might be violating the law. Everyone must watch out for the children in our community and make sure they stay safe when out and about.